Chapter 60 Meeting Mr. Yang Again
The master and servant searched for most of the day and selected six handkerchiefs with unique patterns and fine needlework. Seeing that it was still early, Liu Yu packed up and took Guyu Lixia Kui and her mother-in-law out of the shop. Following Guyu's instructions, they went to the five stalls where Guyu bought the handkerchiefs in her hands.
Although the girls in the embroidery workshop are talented and quick-witted, she has a lot of ready-made garments that customers want recently, so she is in urgent need of finding two embroiderers with high skills.
Liu Yu gave Guyu a few ingots of silver, and soon she got the information of the embroiderers who embroidered the handkerchiefs. They visited several embroiderers in turn according to their distance from home.
They came to West City. West City was different from East City and North City, which were both under the emperor's feet. It was located outside the moat city, close to the west city gate. The people living here were the poorest in the capital. The houses on the whole street were basically dilapidated, beggars were everywhere, and the people living here were a mixed bunch.
The carriage that seemed ordinary in the East City just now, when it arrived in the West City, attracted everyone's attention and attracted a lot of attention.
"Madam, why don't we go back!"
Looking at the alley, there were shirtless men looking at them from time to time, and Guyu asked with some concern.
Liu Yu spread out the handkerchief in her hand. Among all these handkerchiefs, the one in her hand was her favorite and the one she admired the most.
There is a picture of a lady picking mulberry leaves embroidered on the handkerchief. Although the handkerchief is only the size of a palm, it depicts the picture of the lady picking mulberry leaves vividly and with distinct colors.
Liu Yu insisted on finding the person who embroidered this handkerchief, as it was embroidered using the rolling needle technique.
"We're already here. It should be just ahead. Just hold on a little longer." Liu Yu put away his handkerchief and looked up into the depths of the alley.
After one stick of incense, the carriage stopped at the door of an old house. The door was black and not as big as the corner door of Chen's mansion. From the outside, it looked like a single courtyard with one entrance and one exit.
Guyu walked forward and rang the door knocker.
"Who is it?" A hoarse woman's voice came out, and then the door opened from the inside.
The woman was in her forties and looked a little haggard, but she was dressed neatly. Although the cloth clothes she wore were washed to a pale color, they were clean. Her hair was tied in a bun.
"Girls, who are you looking for?" The woman looked at Liu Yu and the others in confusion.
Liu Yu stepped forward and asked with a smile:
"Auntie, are you Madam Yang?"
"I'm."
Liu Yu took out a handkerchief and handed it to the woman:
"Excuse me, was this handkerchief embroidered by Madam Yang?"
Madam Yang took it, confirmed that it was from her hand, and nodded in confusion.
The woman was indeed the person she was looking for, and Liu Yujian understood that she should explain her purpose.
"I am the owner of the Jade Needle Hall. Yesterday, I accidentally found a vendor selling your embroidered handkerchiefs at the market. I really like your embroidery skills, so I came to your house to ask if Madam Yang is willing to work as an embroiderer at our Jade Needle Hall?"
Liu Yu was not afraid that Mrs. Yang would not agree. The fact that she was able to sell the handkerchief showed that she was short of money.
After hearing this, Mrs. Yang's eyes lit up instantly and she quickly opened the door.
"Miss, please come in." The voice was filled with joy that could not be concealed.
Liu Yu nodded, strode into the Yang family, and the others followed closely behind.
As Madam Yang led them into the courtyard, they ran into a man. The man was wearing scarlet court robes and was walking hurriedly, obviously on his way out.
"Mr. Yang?" Guyu was the first to recognize the person coming towards him.
Liu Yu, who was chatting with Mrs. Yang, looked up and saw that it was indeed Yang Shizhong.
Madam Yang asked: "Do you know Shi Zhong?"
Liu Yu looked at Mrs. Yang and realized that the two of them were somewhat similar. She roughly guessed their identities.
"A few days ago, my little girl was almost in danger on Panlou North Street. Thanks to your help, Master Ling, she was lucky enough to save her life."
"Is that so!" The smile in Mrs. Yang's eyes was much more sincere.
Yang Shizhong saw Liu Yu and the others, walked over and saluted Madam Yang:
"How did mother know Miss Liu?"
Mrs. Yang gave Liu Yu a pleading look.
Liu Yu smiled and did not mention the purpose of appearing at the Yang family. He only said that he met Mrs. Yang on the street yesterday and they got along very well.
Yang Shizhong was a loyal and filial man. At this time, he was urgently summoned by the royal family. He was asked a few questions and then left.
Liu Yu chatted with Madam Yang about family matters for a while, then she changed the subject and got back to her purpose, which was to invite Madam Yang to work at Yuzhentang. She offered her fifty silver coins as a monthly salary, and additional compensation for each piece of embroidery she completed.
Mrs. Yang agreed without much hesitation, but she had one condition.
"Mrs. Yang, can I ask you something? Why do you want to advance one hundred taels?"
After renting the shop, she pawned a jade bracelet two days ago and got 350 taels of silver, and spent some more later.
She doesn't have much money left now.
Mrs. Yang did not answer, but silently shed tears.
All of Liu Yu's words were stuck in her throat. She helped Madam Yang sit down, found the Yang family's teapot, and poured a cup of tea for Madam Yang.
"Miss Liu, I'm sorry to have embarrassed you." Madam Yang took a sip from the teacup, her tears slowly stopped, and she slowly explained the reason:
"Zhong'er, come back soon. The world outside is in chaos now, not like at home. I want him to bring some money for self-defense."
This reason made Liu Yu unable to say no.
As mothers, they love and worry about their children. Even though they know it is useless, they still want to do more for their children, even if it is only a little bit.
In Madam Yang, she saw Aunt Wei kneeling at the palace gate, pleading for her over and over again.
At this moment, she actually wanted to leave Yang Shizhong to the woman in front of her.
No one knew better than her that Yang Shizhong's departure would be a farewell forever.
When Liu Yu came out, it was almost evening, and Yang Shizhong still hadn't come back. She agreed to Madam Yang's request.
On the way back, she fell asleep and unexpectedly dreamed that in her previous life, Aunt Wei pleaded for her, but was still unable to change the outcome, and died in depression.
"Madam, are you okay?" Guyu's voice came from outside the car.
Liu Yu opened her eyes and raised her hand to touch her face. It was cold to the touch. She had already burst into tears without knowing when.
She owed her. She knew it from the moment she was reborn. So in this life, even though Auntie still chose to stay in Liu Mansion, Liu Yu would not force her.
All Liu Yu has to do is to guard silently and change the predetermined outcome.
At this moment, a certain thought flashed through her mind.
"I'm fine." Liu Yu lifted the car curtain and looked at Gu Yu, who was sitting next to the wheel with a worried look on her face. She leaned over and whispered in her ear:
"Check when Lord Yang will go to Lingnan."
Guyu was obviously stunned when he heard this.
Many people knew that Yang Zhongshi went to Lingnan. They returned to Chen Mansion, and not long after, Guyu came back with a relief team, which set off five days later.
Liu Yu was thoughtful.
Guyu seemed to be hesitant to speak.
Liu Yu saw it but had no intention of responding. She asked Gu Yu to leave. The room became quiet and only the sound of her tapping on the table could be heard.
After a long while, Liu Yu seemed to have made a decision. She stood up, opened the door, and went to Grandma Kui's residence.